Is it Science or Is It Art?
Bicycle fitting is a science like medicine is a science - some things are always true - except when they aren't; some things are never true - except when they are; and then there's the reality - you’ve tried everything and still feel lousy.
Let’s say you pay $250.00 for a bike fit - one of those laser, wobble, (sic) “retool” thingies that is “absolutely” going to be the answer to all your bike-fit issues. You strap on your helmet, buckle up your shoes, grease up the tusch with butt butter, clip in, and shove off.
You go out and ride and find that you still have numb hands, pain in your feet, hips, knees, back, or neck, can't get any power out of the bike, and twenty miles is about all you can muster at any one time without feeling that you rode uphill against the wind the entire 20 miles with no air in your tires.
Your humbly trudge back to the shop and might be told any of a number of things from “you just have to get used to the new fit” to “you need to get stronger” to… whatever. It’s NEVER the fault of the fit or the “professional trainer” person conducting it, right? You saw all the numbers, right?
The “science” answer? Maybe or…maybe not!
So, what if bicycle fitting is more like art with some science thrown in - and YOU are the subject of the canvas? While your measurements might tell one story, the truth of who you are and what you need in a bike fit might be very different.
For example, you broke your left collar bone ten years ago and it left you a bit lop-sided. You might compensate for the difference by leaning right on your handlebars or shrugging your left shoulder up, or gripping the bars a certain way. The result is pain in the middle of your upper back and numb fingers in your left hand. (This is all theoretical now - or not) You tire after just a few miles and squirm around trying to get comfortable. The inconsistency in your body leads to fit issues that lead to pain that lead to squirming that lead to… “Think I’ll take up golf!”
You get the idea. Any inconsistency in your body can lead to issues with your fit. The “art” of bike fitting is knowing what to do with those inconsistencies to remedy the situation. And that takes not just rote measurements, but an understanding of anatomy, physiology, bio-mechanics, and most importantly the delicate balance of a body perched upon a bicycle.
There isn’t a magic bullet in any of the “measuring” methods - they all give you accurate measurements; it’s what is done with that information, coupled with your feedback, and the knowledge and experience of the fitter that will make your experience on the bicycle exquisite or not.
A great cyclist once told me that being a great cyclist has a HUGE genetic component. A great cyclist can ride just about anything (although prefers a great fit of course) and do well. A great cyclist is also willing to put up with a lot - pain, discomfort, fatigue, and a lot more, to get across the finish line 1/10th of a second faster than the rider chasing him.
The truth is that most of us just want to go out, ride long, ride hard, and come back feeling tired and happy. You go take a shower, grab some food and a beer, and get up the next day ready to ride again. If that is not your experience, it should be.
Stay tuned for more…
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